Don't know if it was the rain, the election politics, the leaves turnin’, it being Monday, or what. I just had a really hard time staying on an even keel today. In the beginning, I was glad to be headed out only because I need the income, but I soon had a headache that coffee didn’t cure and I just wanted to be back at home with Lorraine. In Longview, the loadin’ dock foreman was even more bitter and callous than usual and once he figured out that I had no patience for any of his crap, he just stood there grinnin’ at me with that twisted smile of his. “What? None of your smart-ass comebacks today T******n?” (He always calls me by my last name.) So this particular day, I said nothin’ and just stared back at him in his drippin’-wet ball-cap that seemed slightly tilted at an almost cocky angle. I signed his stupid release-papers, turned around without sayin’ a word and headed into a green/grey, wet wind towards my truck. I heard him laugh behind me and I instinctively started whistlin’, passive-aggressively, just in hope of pissin’ him off. The drive to St Helens was like going through a carwash, hard to see the whole way. The political rhetoric on my satellite radio—which usually perks me up—just drove me nuts. I turned it off with a groan. In the road-noise of my truck-cab, I suddenly realized that I'm way overdue for a long, nighttime run. I’ve always liked doing long-hauls during the winter months; somethin’ about it calms me down. I’m also lookin’ forward to Christmas lights showin’ up soon. Cold crisp air and twinkling lights do wonders for me. Cue those lights. There's this one particular neighborhood in my town that I visit every Christmas - the sheer volume of these new tract-houses with massive light-decorations makes it almost like an amusement park ride. I’ll go back two or three times before New Years hits, always takin’ Lorraine with me. She's usually bundled-up, mesmerized, reflective and quiet. But that’s months away. It seemed really dark in St Helens for 4:30pm to me. A massive line of traffic-headlights was headed the opposite way. I swung into the Community Federal Credit Union for some cash and decided to get it inside, instead of at the ATM, so I could grab another free cup of coffee. The teller-lady there was havin’ a bad day too, mostly because of their new computer system that had only been in place for a week or two. “When it works, it’s really great,” she sighed. “But when the system goes down, it makes for an awfully long day for us.” I couldn’t help but see frustration and sadness in her face. “I get it,” I told her. “20, 40, 60, 70, and 5,” she said and suddenly looked up at me with a beautiful and unexpected smile. “If your out on the roads today Tom, you be sure and be careful,” she advised still smiling. “It’s always nice to see you, and just where is that smile of yours that I always see you come in with?” And with that, a smile flashed across my face before I even knew it. “Aw…I dunno…thanks sweetheart,” was all I could muster in return. “Ok then, be careful Tom; we’ll see ya next-time,” she said and quickly called out “next” to the person at the head of the line. I’d like to tell y’all that it fixed my day, but I’d be lyin’. I jumped in my truck, turned on the Red Sox/Yankee game and headed towards Cornelius Pass. I’m not lyin’ though when I tell y’all that there sure are some real nice people livin' in this town here.
Tom
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